PLAYER RATINGS | Metz 0-1 Strasbourg: Le Racing leave it late in narrow Derby de l’Est win | OneFootball

Ligue 1 McDonald’s, Gameweek 1, 17/08/25

RC Strasbourg Alsace made the short trip to the Stade Saint-Symphorien to face bitter rivals FC Metz in the opening game of the season.

The Match

There were no surprises in the opening exchanges as Strasbourg took control of the ball, registering a 64% share of possession in the first half. Valentín Barco’s influence in midfield was on full display, while Félix Lemaréchal drifted around looking to drag Metz’s defenders out of shape. However, they had very little to show for this control.

Metz were largely comfortable throughout the first half as Strasbourg struggled to find a route through, registering only seven touches in the box and one shot on target. In truth, it looked like Metz were the more dangerous team in the first half when they were allowed to break forward.

The Metz wing-back Koffi Kouao had one of the best chances of the half when he collected the ball in a dangerous area. He cut inside, losing his marker, Barco, and then released his shot. Everything looked perfect up until the moment the ball left his foot; his shot rose far above the crossbar, killing a dangerous opportunity.

Not much changed in the shape of the game in the second half. Strasbourg came inches away from hitting the target from Lemaréchal’s venomous-looking free kick, but ultimately it whistled wide. Le Racing kept pushing and seemed to be edging closer to the goal, as Metz’s intensity began to wane.

Liam Rosenior could regularly turn to his bench during the second half as he brought on Dilane Bakwa, Sebastian Nanasi, and the Chelsea FC loanee Kenny Páez, as he searched for a Derby de l’Est winner. Finally, with four minutes to go before the end of regulation time, the deadlock was broken.

Barco lobbed the Metz defence to find Bakwa. The winger hit a cross over to the debutant Joaquín Panichelli, and the summer signing took the opportunity in both hands as he headed the ball home. There would be late danger as Metz finally woke up and tried to find the equaliser, but ultimately it would be too little too late.

Strasbourg Player Ratings

Mike Penders – 5

Abdoul Ouattara – 5

Mamadou Sarr – 6

Lucas Høgsberg – 6

Junior Mwanga – 5

Valentín Barco – 8

The man of the match in this narrow victory. Barco is now the leader in this new look Strasbourg team, especially when the midfield no longer has Habib Beye or Andrey Santos. He rose to the challenge and was instrumental in controlling the game and eventually opening up a stubborn Metz side.

Samir El Mourabet – 5

Félix Lemaréchal – 6

Joaquín Panichelli – 6

The debutant was largely starved of service throughout most of the game, but he had two good chances, the second of which he took. It’s promising that he’s getting into the right areas, and eventually, as this Strasbourg side begins to settle, it seems likely he’ll be well-fed.

Emanuel Emegha – 5

A very quiet afternoon for the forward. Emegha had been one of the stars of last season, but he created very little, and struggled to link up with his strike partner. He was at fault for a wasted attack when Strasbourg were finally given space to counter.

Metz Selected Player Ratings

Koffi Kouao – 5

Giorgi Tsitaishvili – 4

Benjamin Stambouli – 5

Brian Madjo – 5

The sixteen-year-old looked lively in the few moments he had on the ball during the first half. A highly promising performance until he was replaced in the second half by the eighteen-year-old Idrissa Gueye.

GFFN | Nick Hartland